T-Mobile Hits Up Feds for D-Block Spectrum

T-Mobile USA's Vice President of Government Affairs Tom Sugrue recently argued with the House Energy and Commerce Committee to make 200MHz of additional spectrum available below the 3.5GHz range for commercial use. Specifically, he believes that the 700MHz D block should be re-auctioned off to commercial companies, and then the government should use the proceeds of that auction to build the nationwide public safety broadband network that was originally planned for that block of spectrum. Sugrue pointed out the escalating demand for wireless data services as one reason to make the spectrum available, and also notes that the auction could bring in an additional $2 to $9 billion for the federal government.